Liveaboard Diving in Kaimana

What to Expect On a Kaimana Liveaboard

Liveaboard diving in Kaimana offers divers the chance to dive unspoilt waters in Indonesia. Kaimana is a small port town situated in West Papua, Indonesia, and is the capital of the Kaimana Regency. This remote area of Indonesia is surround by 6000 km2 of pristine Marine National Park, offering Kaimana liveaboard cruises the opportunity to discover and explore new sites and species that have yet to be identified.

This area of ocean is very close to the famously prolific Raja Ampat diving region. From the small number of dives undertaken here, it seems that Kaimana is just as diverse and productive in terms of species count and outstanding natural beauty.

Liveaboard diving from Kaimana

Dive cruises that venture to the Kaimana regions are, for the most part, venturing into uncharted waters. There are many possible liveaboard itineraries that can be dived, including visits to the Moluccas, or even the Forgotten Islands. Triton Bay will almost certainly be on the itinerary of any Kaimana liveaboard vessel that sails here.

Triton Bay is a small harbour town situated in the eastern region of Kaimana. This area is growing in reputation for the exceptionally healthy diving on offer here. The underwater terrain is rocky, with plenty of seamounts that attract large shoals of fish. The rocks are encrusted with soft coral gardens that attracts an incredible variety of species. Macro species are quite abundant in Triton Bay, which in turn has attracted larger pelagic fish.

SCUBA diving in the Kai Islands of Indonesia is also a possibility, situated in the south-eastern part of the Moluccas. These islands are located on the edge of the Coral Triangle where species diversity has been recorded to be higher than anywhere else in the world. There are several different reefs systems including barrier reefs, patch reefs and fringing reefs. Many liveaboard dives to this area are wall dives, assisted by currents of varying strength. For some, the conditions are ideal for an adrenaline-filled drift dive in the stronger currents.

Large pelagic species are drawn to these areas by the nutrients carried by the currents. Several species of whale have been spotted in these waters, including Brydeís whales. These whales are rorquals, and it is not yet known exactly how many species there are. They form the largest species of the Baleen family, alongside blue whales and humpback whales. Of the known species, you can find the common Brydeís whale, and the slightly smaller Edenís whale. They can measure from 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) and weigh up to a staggering 25 metric tons.

Getting To Kaimana

Reaching your Kaimana liveaboard usually entails a few short haul flights from several locations in Indonesia. It is one of the few places on Earth that we can feel like true pioneers and go exploring. Kaimana has its own airport, Utarum, that can be reached from Ambon Airport. To reach Ambon, first head to Jakarta via Soekarno Hatta International Airport. It is more common to see direct flights from international destinations, although most long-haul flights will connect via Singapore. From Jakarta, it is possible to fly directly to Ambon, and flights to this destination are available on a daily basis. Garuda airline operates many routes in the area, and is rated internationally as the safest airline.